As we left 2008 behind, another year passed by with the Playstation 3 still lacking that one killer application to draw in the masses. Metal Gear Solid 4 was perceived as being too long winded and self serving for the broader public to pick up and play, Final Fantasy XIIIdecided to share its love with the Xbox crowd, and Gran Turismo 5… well that’ll be done when it’s ready.

As we kick off 2009, all that seems poised to change as Sony gears up for its next big release in Killzone 2; a sequel to Sony’s prized first person shooter. After more than four years in the making and a no doubt expansive budget, Killzone 2 comes as almost a make or break situation for Sony to regain ground in the console gaming market, where the console has been purchased less for its selection of exclusive titles and more for its functionality as a cheap BluRay player.


Now I do feel I should make one thing clear; Killzone 2 might be a sequel but I never did think much of the original Killzone on PS2. A rigid, linear shooter of the highest order, dolled up with first party shine, it failed to capture my attention beyond its attractive exterior. As to be expected, Killzone 2 is an extremely pretty title; a showcase for the potential of the PS3’s graphical potential. Sony copped a lot of slack when their ‘too good to be true’ trailer to unveil Killzone 2 at E3 was found to be unsurprisingly just that, a trailer for promotion, without any actual gameplay on show. After setting up such high expectations, it would be expected that only failure could follow and that it would always be remembered for not living up to the initial hype. We were all wrong. Killzone 2 is a real treat for the senses. Both visually and audibly it is flawless. It is not just the detail in the character models or level design that make it so impressive, but in the smaller touches, like the way your character reloads and takes cover, that make the mechanics and gameplay as a whole feel more natural, genuinely capturing a first person perspective through a soldier’s eyes.

Compared to the current conventions of modern shooters, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Killzone 2 looks quite bare on the chopping block. You can only hold one primary weapon at a time and there is no alternate fire. The campaign is a strictly solo experience and still a linear affair. There is no secondary ending, no NPC interactions and no character alternation. Killzone 2 is a very stripped back experience, but all the better for it. You are aware that aspects that have become standard in most current shooters have been left out, but never does it feel like they are missing. Never is a weapon useless in a situation, some are just better suited. Whatever weapon you chose to carry, you still have your trusty knife (for close combat) and pistol (for distance) should the need arise. Scripted events feel more natural and the guided path feels less forced. Rarely are you required to conform to one approach of attack. The game’s linearity is ultimately diffused by the enemy A.I. which is without a doubt some of the most intelligent around and some of the most interesting to battle. Even on the easiest difficulty setting, the Helghast still put up one hell of a fight. Ducking and weaving, retreating and flanking; you feel as if you are fighting an equal and not just on a senseless slaughter. The game’s storyline is strong and guides the campaign’s progression well, justifying the linear nature. Solid as it is, it isn’t until the game’s final closing scenes that its impact is truly felt, ranking it up with the likes of Call of Duty 4 as a profound and honest depiction of war. The memorable story makes for a very personal experience, best suited to the solo players, but some gamers may still mourn at the absence of co-op. Potentially a patch later down the track may introduce the feature, but regardless of whether this materialises, the game plays perfectly without it. Killzone 2 is really a title that must be played to be realised, a game that brings gaming back a step to remind us what we enjoyed in first person shooters to begin with. It won’t disappoint from start to finish.


Like with any shooter title in the modern age, it is a game’s campaign that might be memorable, but it is the game’s multiplayer that will keep players coming back. Warzone is the game’s unique spin on multiplayer. Multiplayer battles are broken down into 16-a-side competition through a range of alternating mini-mission objectives. There are five mission types consisting of Search & Destroy, Assassination, Search & Retrieve and Capture & Hold, along with the more traditional deathmatch mode Bodycount, to see who can rack up the most kills within the time limit. With each mission given a smaller time limit of five minutes, and each multiplayer match consisting of about seven objectives, it’s not uncommon for a single match to take in excess of half an hour. While the majority of the missions end in either a win or a lose, instructing one side to attack and the other to defend, some objectives, like Capture & Hold, have the potential to end in a draw. It is these decisive battles that can really swing the course of battle, especially when objectives such as Assassination can leave you at a serious disadvantage in the position of defence (especially when your other teammates are absolutely hopeless!).

Starting out in the basic position of infantryman, kitted out with the ever-trusty assault rifle, new weapons and classes become unlocked as you accumulate points through multiplayer. Each role serves a vital role in conflict and it is up to you to work as a team to make the most of the respective classes, most importantly the much-valued medic whom has the ability to revive a downed opponent if they are only mortally wounded. The enemy still gets awarded the kill regardless, but it can save them respawning across the map, especially beneficial when defending a position. You’ll just need to make sure you place an extra bullet in your opponent’s dying corpse to keep them down.

With both squad (for up to four players) and clan (for up to a staggering 64 players to join) support is certainly deep enough to keep players coming back, but balanced enough to jump in and not feel like the odds are stacked against you. Bot support is also available to train up your skills offline and once again A.I. does not disappoint. Like any online title, time will tell if players take to Killzone 2’s multiplayer, but I’d be completely surprised if this didn’t become the system’s staple following release.


I knew that Killzone 2 was going to be a big release for Sony, but I never expected to enjoy it, at the very least not as much as I have. Killzone 2 is one of the best shooters I’ve played in a long time, console or otherwise. With terrific A.I., fantastic visuals, solid gameplay, engrossing multiplayer and memorable storyline beneath the macho exterior, this is definitely not a release to skip. If you own a PS3 then buy it without question and if you don’t, well maybe it’s time you finally considered picking one up.

The Playstation 3 has finally found its killer app.